KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 — Three Chinese nationals were killed while a driver was seriously injured when a crane gantry fell at the construction site of the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) near Puncak Banyan, Persiaran Alam Damai, Cheras, this morning.
Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department (JPBM) director Nordin Pauzi said the three who were construction workers of the project from China were identified as Ding Kunfu, Jiang Jinboa and Mu Tong Zheng.
“The bodies of Ding and Jiang have been brought out by firefighters at 11.30 am and were handed over to the police for further action. Efforts to retrieve the body of Mu who was trapped between the steel structure is still going on,” he told reporters today.
He said JPBM received a call on the incident at about 8.45am and three fire engines from the fire and rescue stations of Cheras, Tun Razak and Hang Tuah rushed to the scene.
Nordin said Ding and Jiang died after falling from a height of 36.6 metres while maintaining the track.
“The third victim (Mu) fell and was caught between the tracks under construction,” he said.
Meanwhile, a local known as Low Zy Jing, 33, who was driving a Perodua Bezza was reported to be severely injured when passing through the area.
The victim was then brought to Canselor Tuanku Muhriz Hospital here for treatment.
Cheras police chief ACP Mohamed Mokhsein Mohamed Zon said police have opened an investigation paper under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 on the incident.
”Following that, police have temporarily closed the section and created as a diversion at Jalan Cerdas here to prevent traffic passing through the scene,” he said.
In this regard, Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (Prolintas) which is the holder of the expressway concession announced that the incident was believed to be due to a component of the gantry falling off but an investigation into the actual cause is still going on.
“Following the incident, the ‘Emergency Response Team’ of SUKE and firefighters have closed the incident section in both directions and rescue works are still going on,” said the statement.
Meanwhile, a man who only wanted to be known as Wong, 33, when met said he and his friend were working in a factory about 100 metres away, rushed out on hearing a loud bang.
“I was working in a factory, suddenly there was a loud noise and my friend and I immediately went to the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters and police had already gathered at the place.
“We don’t know what fell because I can’t see clearly but what is certain is a loud bang was heard at a location near the factory where I work,” he told Bernama.
Wong said he and his colleagues were not allowed to approach the scene after police set up barricades in the area.
Three individuals died in an incident where a crane steel structure collapsed at the Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) construction site near Puncak Banyan, Persiaran Alam Damai, Cheras, this morning.
